Why APC Has Not Released Official List Of Successful Candidates For 2027 – Yilwatda

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has confirmed that the party is yet to release the official list of candidates that emerged from its primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking on Thursday, Yilwatda disclosed that a final decision on candidates who emerged from its recent nationwide primaries has not been taken because petitions and appeal reports are being reviewed by its legal department and the National Working Committee (NWC).

The APC chairman noted that no list of candidates will be submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) until the reviews are completed.

Naija News reports that Yilwatda made the position of the party known when some aggrieved stakeholders from the Niger South Senatorial District, stormed the APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday to demand the cancellation of the senatorial primary election conducted in the district.

The protesters alleged widespread irregularities during the exercise and called for a fresh primary election, insisting that the process that produced a candidate for the district did not reflect the wishes of party members.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Deputy National Secretary of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince, alleged that no genuine primary election took place, claiming that results were announced before voting materials arrived at the designated centres.

According to him, party members across the predominantly Nupe-speaking district had assembled and were waiting to vote when information emerged that results had already been declared.

He further alleged that the announcement of the results was made at the Government House in Minna instead of the APC zonal office in Bida, where senatorial primary results had traditionally been declared.

The protesters argued that the departure from established procedures raised questions about the credibility of the exercise and suggested that the outcome had been predetermined.

“We are asking for justice and a fresh, transparent and credible primary election. What happened cannot be described as a democratic process,” another protester said.

The stakeholders also appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure fairness and justice, urging the APC leadership to intervene to address the grievances of party members.

In his response, Yilwatda explained that the Electoral Act and the party’s internal guidelines clearly stipulate the procedures for challenging the outcome of primary elections.

He noted that only aspirants who participated in the contested primaries possess the legal standing to challenge the process and file formal complaints before the party’s Appeal Committee.

The APC chairman disclosed that reports from various appeal committees were currently being reviewed by the party’s legal department, adding that all petitions submitted within the stipulated timeframe would be examined.

He therefore urged the aggrieved aspirants to follow the laid-down channels to submit their objections.

“You should encourage the affected aspirants to properly document any grievances and ensure that they are submitted through the approved channels. The Appeal Committee reports are already before the legal department for review,” he said.

Yilwatda assured the protesters that any complaint involving genuine breaches of party rules or electoral procedures would receive due consideration.

According to him, once the legal department concludes its review, the reports would be transmitted to the National Working Committee for consideration before the party forwards its final list of candidates.

“The process is not completed until all appeal reports are reviewed. We are awaiting the legal department’s report, after which the National Working Committee will take the necessary decisions in line with due process,” he stated.

Yilwatda’s remarks address growing anxiety among APC members and aspirants over the delay in the release of the party’s final list of candidates for the 2027 general elections.